Do you wish you didn’t have student loans? While they haven’t yet created a time machine that will allow you to go back and not borrow all that money for your degree, there are ways that you can make your debt more manageable. Two of those ways are to either consolidate or refinance your student loans.

Got variable rate student loans? If you do, you might have noticed that your interest rate has been slowly ticking up over the last couple of years. The interest rates on your loans are affected by the Federal Reserve and they have been increasing their rates since 2015 – which has meant that the amount you owe on your student loans each month is also increasing.

You and Peter took the same MCAT and both got into the top-rated medical school in the country. You took out the same 6-figure loan to pay for your medical education. You both matched into top research hospitals and spent tireless 80-hour weeks serving patients and perfecting your craft. You were both at the top of your residency class and landed attending jobs at the hospitals of your choice. The only difference is you now make 8% less than Peter. That translates into approximately $91,000 less per year than your male counterparts. It’s hard to believe in 2017 woman are still fighting the equal pay battle. The system is broken and changes need to be made. But we’ll cover that in another blog post. Today we’ve gathered our favorite tips negotiating a fair salary and getting paid what you’re worth!

You have a wealth of education resources and study materials at your fingertips throughout medical school. Talk about a double-edged sword! On the one hand, it’s great to have so many resources. But on the other hand, it’s impossible (and not smart) to use them all. There are only so many hours in the day…

You just matched into residency, and you’re thrilled to take the next step in your career. For the first time in a long time, you feel like you can breathe again. Enjoy it now: Once residency starts, you won’t be slowing down again for awhile. And you won’t have much time to think about the giant elephant you’re carrying on your back: Your student loans.

Here’s the dirty secret no one tells you about graduating from med school: just as you’re finally getting a chance to celebrate your accomplishments and catch up on sleep, you’ll get a rude awakening from an unwelcome guest: your lender.

Think of your residency personal statement as an opportunity to show your best stuff. Your residency application requires a personal statement, where you have the rare opportunity to talk at some length about your talents. Use it to your advantage to indicate that you have what the hospital needs in terms of abilities, experiences, skills, and maturity. Demonstrate that you are the person the program is looking for. In short, show each program that you are a good "match."